Hope for healing: Childhood Cancer Reunion held at Children’s & Women’s Hospital
Members of the Mapp Child & Family Life Program hosted the event that drew more than 100 former and current patients and families of children who lost their battles to cancer.
By Casandra Andrews
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On a recent Sunday, the parents of a toddler in remission from cancer for just a few months had the chance to meet a 31-year-old who beat the illness as a teenager. The families both attended the second annual Childhood Cancer Reunion at Children’s & Women’s Hospital.
The event is held during September to mark Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and recognize the challenging path many local families face. It’s also a time for healthcare providers to reconnect with the children and caregivers who became like family to them during months, and sometimes even years, of inpatient and outpatient therapies and treatments. The hospital treats children with cancer using a multidisciplinary approach that includes board-certified physicians, advanced practice providers, therapists, nurses, and child life specialists, among others, who focus on caring for patients and supporting their families through a challenging journey.
Statistics show that 1 in 260 children and adolescents younger than 20 will be diagnosed with cancer each year in the United States. While rare, a pediatric cancer diagnosis is often devastating for families and caregivers.
Preethi Marri, M.D., a pediatric hematologist and oncologist who is part of the pediatric oncology healthcare team at Children’s & Women’s Hospital, said acknowledging the tough journey that many families and children go through is vital.
So is “looking back and focusing on the strength and resilience that they’ve shown through the journey,” she said, “and now the life they have, and the incredible new journeys they have started.”
As upbeat music swirled in the background, children danced and laughed at the outdoor event, while some took photos with Azalea Trail Maids and grinned for pictures at a photo booth featuring a shimmering gold backdrop. A caricature artist created one-of-a-kind images of dozens of current and former patients throughout the afternoon.
Members of the Mapp Child & Family Life Program hosted the event that drew more than 100 former and current patients and families of children who lost their battles too soon. After accidents, cancer is the second leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 14, according to the American Cancer Society.
Part of a multidisciplinary healthcare team, USA Health’s child life specialists provide procedural preparation and support, therapeutic play, and other therapeutic activities for pediatric patients receiving hospital and emergency department care. They strive to create a safe, supportive environment for children, their families, and caregivers as they manage the stress of a hospital visit.
On Wednesday, Sept. 24, a private bellringing ceremony is planned at the hospital to celebrate the end of cancer treatment for 14 children.
